Licks for teachers who rest and reflect

UPDATE:

EDUCATION Minister Anthony Garcia said Section 69 of the Industrial Relations Act prohibits members of the teaching service from taking part in industrial action.

Garcia said this was the advice he received from the Attorney General and the ministry’s legal team when the TT Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) made a call for teachers to stay away from classes on Friday.

TTUTA president Lynsley Doodhai made his call just before the start of the new school term which began on Monday saying the association would be doing this as a “sympathy strike” to show solidarity with retrenched Petrotrin workers.

A sympathy strike was when one union strikes in support for another involved in a dispute, even though the first union had no disagreement with the employer.

During a news conference at the Education Ministry yesterday, Garcia said members of the Teaching Service were among several who could not take part in any industrial action.
Last Friday, Doodhai said, “They touch one teacher, they touch all teachers. They touch one worker, they touch all workers”, adding that this was part of the “Day of Rest” proposed by the Joint Trade Union Movement.

Garcia said it was a call by TTUTA to show solidarity to the Oilfields Workers Trade Union in its quest to have the situation at Petrotrin resolved. However, he said according to the Industrial Relations Act members of the Teaching Service were prohibited from conducting sympathy strikes, the Public Service, Prisons and Fire Services, employees of Central Bank and the Teaching Service should not take part in any industrial action.

He said teachers were cautioned against any participation on Friday’s sympathy strike as the matter would be referred to the Teaching Service Commission. Penalties could range from salary cuts to dismissal.

In fact, any member of the teaching service who took part in industrial action in contravention of Section 69 of the act was liable on summary conviction to a fine of $500 and imprisonment of three months. Absence from work without leave on Friday could also be construed as an act of misconduct under the Teaching Service Regulations.

Garcia said teachers had a responsibility to the nation’s children.

Regarding the opening of schools on Monday, when TTUTA said 25 schools instead of 13 remained closed, Garcia said that figure was now 27. He said 12 needed major structural renovation while eight were temporarily closed. Students of Curepe Anglican and Diego Martin RC Schools are yet to be relocated.
He also said continuation teachers and security guards at government schools would be collecting their salaries soon.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Education Minister Anthony Garcia said according to Section 69 of the Industrial Relations Act, public servants, which includes teachers, are prohibited from taking part in industrial action.

Garcia said this was the advice he received when TTUTA made a call for teachers to stay away from classes on Friday.

TTUTA president Lynsley Doodhai said the association would be doing this as a "sympathy strike" to show solidarity with retrenched Petrotrin workers.